kingichigo:

Okay, since I’ve seen this argument coming back, I just have to say it:

Ichigo has no issue with being a human and not a shinigami. Ichigo can live a human life and be content with it. It’s exactly what he’s been doing throughout the entire story. He’s always been a substitute

shinigami, and never needed to be more than that.

The Fullbring arc was not about Ichigo missing Rukia or losing his shinigami status. Ichigo’s grief in the Fullbring arc was over his loss of the ability to protect. He can be human, but he can’t be completely powerless and weak. He agreed to help Ginjo before he knew that he would be getting his shinigami powers back, when he was completely out of other options. 

“I wonder if I can keep up with the speed of the world without you in it” is about Zangetsu. (君, aka “kimi”, the kanji used for “you,” is informal and not typically directed at someone you consider your equal. It has no gender restrictions.) It’s about how Ichigo feels left behind, like a useless burden, without the power that helped him protect others. All of his friends have kept their powers and are are still able to protect people, until they need protection themselves, and he can’t do anything to help. He can’t keep up.

Ichigo just wants to be able to protect his loved ones. That’s his goal in life. Not being a “real”

shinigami. There’s nothing in the final chapter that suggests Ichigo has lost his powers and wouldn’t be able to help if a problem came up.

But if Ichigo’s living in a world where he’s surrounded by his loved ones, who are happy and safe, and there’s nothing left to protect them from? There’s a reason Yhwach almost came back in this moment: it’s Ichigo’s happiest. There’s nothing more he could want.